A public commitment to structural transparency and long-term accountability in a small island context.

We believe good governance begins with honesty.

As a family-founded organization operating in a tight-knit ecosystem, we have chosen not to hide our structure—but to govern it, document it, and declare it.

This is our official governance framework. We invite all institutions, funders, and partners to hold us to it—and to raise their own standards alongside ours.

Declaration of Governance  and Integrity Including Founding Structure, Oversight and Ethical Leadership

Issued by the Board of the Go Cultura Foundation

I. Purpose of this Declaration

This declaration serves as a public affirmation of Go Cultura Foundation's ethical governance model, founding structure, and long-term commitment to institutional transparency and accountability.

Operating within a small island context where social proximity, personal ties, and overlapping responsibilities are common, we recognize that integrity cannot be defined by distance alone. It must be built through intentional structure, transparent documentation, and a willingness to lead by example.

We offer this declaration not as a symbolic gesture, but as a living document—paired with systems, policies, and annual reporting that hold us accountable in practice.

II. Founding Structure

Go Cultura Foundation was established by Arthur B. Loefstok and Edjean Semeleer, who were life partners at the time of founding and became legally married in 2025. Their relationship predates the Foundation and is built upon two decades of shared professional collaboration, strategic action, and cultural commitment.

We recognize that family-founded organizations raise governance concerns, especially in small communities. We do not deny the dynamic. Instead, we have designed and implemented a governance model that acknowledges it openly and mitigates it structurally.

We believe that family-founded organizations must be held to higher standards—and we are proud to lead by example.

III. Governance Structure and Commitments

To preserve public trust and institutional credibility, Go Cultura Foundation has embedded the following safeguards into its governance system:

1. Voting Power Separation

Only one founder may hold a voting seat at a time. The second founder serves in a non-voting, strategic advisory role. This is recorded in statutes and enforced in official board minutes.

2. Conflict of Interest Policy

All board members must declare any real or perceived conflicts of interest. In such cases, the member recuses themselves, and the recusal is formally documented. The Advisory Circle reviews all recorded recusals annually.

3. Independent Advisory Circle

Composed of professionals outside the family and sector, this body reviews strategy, funding decisions, and executive oversight. Their recommendations are provided in writing, archived, and a public summary is included in the Foundation's Annual Governance Update.

4. Leadership Rotation

While founders may be eligible to serve multiple terms, we uphold a rotation of voting seats and guarantee that at least two non-family members always hold voting rights. Voting roles are reviewed annually.

5. Succession Planning

The Foundation maintains a written succession plan with concrete benchmarks: mentorship of non-family board members, documentation of core responsibilities, and a pathway for leadership transition. Progress is tracked publicly.

6. Annual Governance Update

Each year, the Foundation publishes a concise report detailing:

• Recusal cases and outcomes
• Advisory Circle input and responses
• Succession plan benchmarks
• Any changes to the governance structure

This report is publicly available on our website to transform principle into proof.

IV. Sectoral Context: Acknowledging the island Reality

We operate in a region where governance often depends on the same few individuals, where informal systems dominate, and where structural transparency is rare.

• Board seats are recycled.
• Conflicts of interest go undeclared.
• Leadership turnover is minimal.

We do not claim perfection—but we refuse to accept dysfunction as tradition.

Our governance model is not just a defense of our structure. It is a proposal for a new standard—a model designed for small island contexts, but guided by global best practices.

V. Our Position

We are proud—not apologetic—to be co-founders who are also family. We have built a model that recognizes this reality and holds it to a higher bar.

We do not operate from shadows or silence. We believe governance must be practiced in public, with systems that can be challenged, measured, and improved.

We invite others to do the same.

VI. Final Commitment

This declaration is reaffirmed annually, alongside the publication of our Governance Update Report. It evolves with the Foundation, reflects our growth, and is open to sectoral dialogue.

We welcome critique. We invite comparison. We encourage replication.

Because the only way to change a system—is to build a better one and show your work.

Signed,

Arthur B. Loefstok — President

Edjean Semeleer — Vice President

Go Cultura Foundation

Date: March 1, 2025